By IJEOMA UKAZU
A group of Pharmacists under the platform of the Association of Lady Pharmacists, ALPs has said one of its programmes on the cultivation of herbal plants, known as Project 91 could reduce capital flight and lead to medical security for the country if Nigeria increases investment in the area.
National Chairman of ALPs, Victoria Ukwu said that with the required investment, the project would achieve good health, nutrition and economic benefits, adding that it is expected to boost gross domestic income, GDI, gross domestic product, GDP and thereby grow the nation’s economy.
Ukwu said ultimately, it would put Nigeria on the global map alongside China and India that currently dominate the global traditional and herbal medicine market.
She added the ALPs would be going into partnership with the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, NIPRD, to ensure that the end products from the cultivation would be standardised to meet modern pharmaceutical needs.
The plan of the ALPs was unveiled at a media briefing to announce the ALPs 15th Bienniel National Conference with the theme: ‘Pharmaceutical Value Chain For Optimal Utilisation– Where Are We?’ in Lagos.
According to her, “ALPS plan was geared towards the development of standards to guarantee the safety of consumers; said herbal medicinal plants have shown benefits in disease disorders like sickle cell anaemia.
“The emphasis now is on agriculture,” she stated, dismissing claims that pharmacists are opposed to herbal medications. Agriculture is the focus right now. We may enlist the help of all of our governors’ wives, who are our patrons, in developing herbal/vegetable gardens across the country. This will serve to empower the women, as well as help to showcase our rich herbal resources and lead to medicine security.”
Explaining the rationale behind the cultivation of the medicinal plants, Ukwu said, “Nigeria is blessed with medicinal plants; that is why we are going into this project.” She added, “It’s a zonal thing. We have gardens in Asaba and Ogun State where we are cultivating plants of medicinal value.” According to her, ALPs are functional in 26 states of the federation including the federal capital territory. The National Chairman said the ALPs have been partnering with some first ladies on the planting of the medicinal plants.
“Last year, we paid a courtesy visit to the First Lady of Benue State and we appealed to her to provide the association with a garden in Benue State for ‘Project 91.”
Ukwu said four first ladies are expected at the June conference. They include the First ladies of Lagos, Ogun, Edo and Katsina states, from whom the ALPs will be requested to provide gardens for the cultivation of the medicinal plants.
The former National Chairman of ALPs, Chief Yetunde Morokundiya explained that both traditional and orthodox medicine practitioners now work collaboratively to ensure effective health care delivery. They are no longer practising haphazardly. Traditional medicine is now being properly formulated and packaged in the measured form to ensure standardisation, she stressed.
Monica Hemben Eimunjeze, the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee noted that many orthodox medicines are sourced from plants. “What we are talking about is the intentional cultivation of specific plants.
Eimunjeze said, “For example hibiscus and bitter leaf plants that are cultivated to use them for production as against just random existence.”
According to Eimunjeze, some plants promote conception for twin babies and certain plants have applications for the management of sickle cell disorder. “When you identify such plants and cultivate them for that purpose that is what Project 91 is all about,” she added.
The ALPs conference is scheduled to be held in Lagos State, and will start with a retreat at the Whispering Palms Resort, Badagry from June 5 to 8; and a quiz competition among female students from public secondary schools at the Lagos Country Club on June 8. While the opening ceremony of the conference will be held on June 9, the Biennial General meeting and closing dinner will also take place on June 10.